Skip to Content

Belgium Under the Radar – Aalst

The city of Aalst is the eighth city in this Belgium Under the Radar blog series.

Aalst is located in the province of East Flanders and has a population of just over 80,000. The city is old – 9th century – and has a rich and quite interesting history. It used to be the home of Dirk Martens, who in 1473 started one of the very first printing businesses in the world. I won’t bore you any further with historic facts – for once! – and therefore I suggest that you take a look at Aalst’s wikipedia page if you would like more information.

Town square of Aalst, Belgium

Town square of Aalst

The city now is most famous for its annual carnival parade and celebrations and its beautiful town square. It’s a lovely city to spend an afternoon in; there are several pedestrian shopping streets, a fascinating museum and quaint cobble stone alleyways and squares.

St Martin’s Church

This is a church you really shouldn’t miss. It’s well maintained, the interior is colorful and there are so many treasures that it’s almost impossible to see them all.

Saint Martin's Church in Aalst, Belgium

Saint Martin’s Church

Interior of the St Martin's Church, Aalst, Belgium

The awe-inspiring interior of the St Martin’s Church

There’s an abundance of statues, tapestries, sculptures,… It’s seriously impressive. There’s also a painting by Peter Paul Rubens.

Stained-glass window in Aalst, Belgium

One of dozens of beautiful stained-glass windows

Saint Martin's Church in Aalst, Belgium

A look around in the church

Beguinage

Yep, here’s another beguinage! This beguinage has been around since 1261, but was closed after the Second World War due to lack of beguines. The beguines’ houses are gone and have been replaced by regular houses. The remaining chapel is an interesting feature though. It was built in 1631 on top of a grave of a mysterious beguine. No one knows who or why.

The chapel of St Anthony of Padua, Aalst

The chapel of St Anthony of Padua

Statues

Aalst is a city of historic figures, who all absolutely deserve a statue. The following four, in particular, are quite famous. (Click the links for more information!)

Louis Paul Boon, novelist

Louis Paul Boon statue in Aalst, Belgium

Louis Paul Boon statue

Adolf Daens, priest

Monument for Adolf Daens, Aalst

Monument for Adolf Daens

Valerius de Saedeleer, painter

Statue of Valerius de Saedeleer

Statue of Valerius de Saedeleer

Dirk Martens, printer and editor

Dirk Martens statue in Aalst, Belgium

Statue of Dirk Martens at the town square

Train Station

I’ve never seen a train station like the one in Aalst before. It was built 160 years ago and kind of looks like a castle. It’s a protected monument and definitely an interesting building, but I still don’t know what to think of it. It’s kind of weird.

Aalst train station, Belgium

The train station castle

Borse of Amsterdam

This beautiful building on the town square dates from the 17th century. Aalst used to be located on the main road from Lille, France, to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and here travelers could take a break, eat and/or sleep. There were stables where horses could rest as well.

Borse van Amsterdam in Aalst, Belgium

The Borse of Amsterdam

Nowadays there are a restaurant on the ground floor and rooms for celebrations and parties on the upper floors.

City Hall

The city hall, also located on the town square, is a beautiful Rococo building. Dating from the 17th century, it used to be the place from where Aalst and the surrounding areas were governed.

City Hall of Aalst, Belgium

City Hall of Aalst

Belfry

Between the Borse of Amsterdam and the city hall stand the gorgeous – there’s no other word for it – Belfry and Aldermen’s House. Erected in 1460, it’s the oldest belfry in Belgium and arguably the most beautiful as well. The belfry’s carillon contains no less than 52 bells.

Belfry of Aalst, Belgium

The awesome belfry of Aalst, at the town square

The Aldermen’s House was built in 1225. Its cellars used to serve as torture chambers and a prison.

Town square of Aalst, Belgium

The Belfry in the middle and the Borse of Amsterdam on the left

Both buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As mentioned before, Aalst is well-known for its carnival festivities, held each year in February.

Location Aalst, Belgium

Other posts in this series are: Lier, Tongeren, Durbuy, Dinant, Leuven, Namur and Ypres.

Devlin @ Marginal Boundaries

Sunday 13th of April 2014

That statue of Valerius de Saedeleer kind of reminds me of Matryoshka doll.

Jennifer

Sunday 13th of April 2014

That train station really does look like a castle! And the carnival looks fun too.